What a fantastic community ‘River Fest’ festival in the Rec on Sunday 29th May: Over 2,000 attended! Organised by Tottenham Ploughmans and the Lordship Hub.

And next Sunday 5th June is a Jazz Fest at the Shell Theatre (from 2pm) and in the Hub (from 5.30pm). Lots more events planned during the summer eg Health and Lifestyle Market Sat 12th June (12-5pm) / Ladies Night Sat 19th June (7-10pm) / Go Wild Sun 3rd July (12-5pm) / Youth Fest Sat 9th July (1-5pm)… A big thank you to the dozens of local people who are helping organise all these events. More people and help always appreciated of course.

Meanwhile the Outdoor Gym by the Hub is now completed and already hugely popular, and the kids paddling pool is now open.

The Lordship Lake Group are also currently planning improvements to the lake area (a new interpretation board, extra aquatic banks, some picnic tables by the hub etc).

Rockstone are now running their bike hub/shop every day at the front entrance to the park, with many people coming for advice and to get their bikes repaired.

Another bit of good news is that some long-needed maintenance and repair works are being done by the Council over the coming weeks and months.

Meanwhile the Lordship Hub has launched an online crowdfunding drive so a roof can be built above the terraces to protect cafe users etc from the rain – already over £1,000 has been pledged. All contributions large or small are very welcome. For more info click here: www.spacehive.com/lordshiphub The Hub’s cafe staff and volunteers have this week introduced a new, ‘fast-track’ summer menu for everyone to try out and enjoy. And don’t forget there are rooms to hire there – the first ever wedding reception was a big success last Saturday!

Phew!

All this and more is the result of the efforts of the members of the Friends and the other park user groups – all working together to build up community spirit, community initiative and community empowerment. All the groups would like more people to get involved so that all this good stuff (and more) can continue and the work is shared among more people – we could do with twice as many! Don’t worry if you’re not sure what you might be able to do in terms of time and skills – any contribution is welcome.

So why not come along to the Friends meeting this Sunday 5th June, 2pm at the Hub, to hear all the news, have your say, and consider if you’d like to get involved in some way in one or more of the activities.

On Saturday September 20th there was a lovely village atmosphere as crowds turned out to enjoy and join in a range of exciting, enthralling, informative, lively, fun and empowering community activities in various parts of the Rec. This year’s event – on World Parks Day 2014! – was once again organised by and for local people. It showcased the wonderful talent in Tottenham, and the efforts and determination of so many groups to promote community spirit, initiative and empowerment.

Activities included…– One World Folk Music at the outdoor Shell Theatre stage & in the Hub: Music and performances from all different cultures, coordinated by the Shell Performing Arts Collective. There was also a procession led by the Stow Caledonian Pipe Band.– Tottenham Flower & Produce Show: Lots of impressive and artistic entries (local fruit and veg, plants, crafts etc), and many prizes handed out. Coordinated by Back2Earth and members of the Friends of Lordship Rec– Dogs Day Out: In the main field there was a Fun Dog Show and Dog Agility Course, plus free micro-chipping, tag engraving and info for dog owners. Coordinated by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Wood Green Animal Shelter and members of the soon-to-be re-launched Lordship Dog Club.– Sports Sessions in the main field, including boxing. Organised by Haringey Council’s Leisure Services.– Free gym induction, in the Broadwater Farm Community Centre– Harmony Gardens: Informative tours of the community food-growing garden, organised by Back2Earth’s Head Gardener– Open House information about the environmental excellence of the new Eco-Hub building. Organised by the Hub designers, Ann Thorne Architects..– Special Guest Cafe(s) at the Eco-Hub: Delicious fresh meals jointly laid on by Back 2 Earth and Simba Organics– Community stalls: A magnificent spread of info/crafts/products/fundraising/food stalls from local community groups, campaigns and traders– Ad hoc wheels fun on the Loop track and in the freestyle area– Consultation with young people about the Adventure Playground, organised by Haringey Play Association

Lordship Rec, N17Saturday 20th September 2014, 12-6pmIncluding…– One World Folk Music at the Shell & Hub (By the Shell Performing Arts Collective)– Tottenham Flower & Produce Show (By Friends of Lordship / Back 2 Earth)– Dogs Day Out in the main field – Fun Dog Show / Free Micro-chipping and Tag Engraving / Dog Agility Course (By Battersea Dogs and Cats Home / Wood Green Animal Shelter)– Sports Sessions in the main field (By Council’s Leisure Services) + free gym induction in the Broadwater Farm Community Centre– BMX Action: trials and session on the Loop track (By Tottenham Bike Club)– Harmony Gardens: Informative tours of the community food-growing garden (By Back 2 Earth’s Head Gardener)– Open House tours of the Eco-Hub (By the Hub Co-op / Architects) and Cafe at the Eco-Hub (By Back 2 Earth)– Youth consultation by the Loop,adventure playground and freestyle area

8,000 residents attend to celebrate the community-led regeneration of Tottenham’s largest park, and to showcase the talents and interests of Tottenham’s communities

The 2012 Lordship Rec ‘Re-launch’ Community Festival in Tottenham on Saturday 22nd September was a huge success. 8,000 attended the celebration of the new community-led regeneration works in the Recreation Ground, and took part in a dazzling array of free activities for all ages and interests. From 11am to 5pm thousands joined in the sports, arts and crafts, music and dance, history, discussions, browsing of stalls, and other fun and educational activities. As in the previous annual festivals in the Rec, the idea was to showcase the talents and interests of Tottenham’s communities and to promote community spirit. Over 70 local volunteers helped the day go smoothly.

The event was organised and co-ordinated by the Lordship Rec Users Forum**, the community-led stakeholders organisation who have driven forward the successful regeneration of the park over the last 10 years. £5m of construction works over the last 18 mths (£4m from the Heritage Lottery Fund) have resulted in a gorgeous brand-new flower-lined channel for the River Moselle, a new ‘Loop’ bike track and an Environmental Hub building with café and classroom, refurbishment of the Shell Theatre, restoration of the historic and nationally-unique Model Traffic Area, new meadows, flower-beds and tree planting, and general improvements to drainage, paths and entrances. The festival was able to introduce all these new features and facilities to local residents. Continue reading “Community Festival ‘re-launches’ Tottenham’s largest park following £5m improvements”

Lordship Rec has been a public park for 80 years. It has boasted many unique features including the nationally reknowned Model Traffic Area plus the Shell Theatre. In 2011-12 major renovation works have taken place bringing these features back to life and adding new ones. We now have a stunning new course for the River Moselle, a state of the art bike track, an innovative ‘eco’ building with cafe, toilets, community room and classroom, and many other natural features.

The Lordship Rec Community Festival is on this year again – by popular demand! (See report of last year’s highly successful event – below).

The festival is organised collectively by the organisations involved in the LRUF, and by all those involved in putting on activities there. Its a huge challenge for all of us, and we can only pull it off again if loads of people help out from the very beginning.

Can everyone who wants to help make this year’s event a success please come along to the launch meeting.